機構分析師表示解決美國海軍造船問題應從工人開始 (2/2)

 Recently Yahoo News on-line picked up the following:

Fixing the US Navy's shipbuilding problems starts with the workers, agency analysts say (2/2)

Business Insider - Chris Panella

Sun, March 16, 2025 at 4:17 a.m. PDT·4 min read

(continue)

Oakley's statement to lawmakers this week, which featured information from the GAO's study on Navy shipbuilding, said that shipyards are largely struggling to replace the loss of experienced, skilled workers with new ones.

This issue applies, too, to white-collar shipbuilders like designers, naval architects, and engineers who "can take other jobs," Ronald O'Rourke, a naval affairs analyst with the Congressional Research Service, said.

There is also overlap with maintenance and repair yards. Oakley noted that the Navy's strategy has to focus on that alongside building, as they're inseparable and face similar issues, especially with regard to labor.

Some major US shipbuilders, especially those working on top US Navy submarines and surface ships, have pointed out the differences between their workforces today and 30 years ago: they're having trouble hiring people and keeping experienced workers.

They've also spoken to the overlap between these labor issues and other problems in shipbuilding. The Navy has often had inconsistent demand signals for its programs, which leaves industry in an uncertain place for hiring and maintaining workers.

US commercial and military shipbuilding problems are a priority in Washington right now. President Donald Trump has announced plans to create a White House office dedicated to the issue, and both his pick for Navy secretary and his defense secretary have highlighted the focus on shipbuilding.

The urgency is especially felt amid China's continued shipbuilding dominance. China boasts the largest shipbuilding industry in the world, vastly overshadowing the US, with blurred lines between its commercial and military yards.

As the US continues to prioritize meeting China's rise and the state of great power competition, shipbuilding has come to the forefront as a potential problem for the American military should the US and China clash at sea.

As it stands, the Navy's plans to continue building and maintaining its fleet will come at a hefty price tag. The US Congressional Budget Office said earlier this year it expected the Navy, based on the service's 2025 shipbuilding plan, to need about $40 billion each year through 2054.

But due to infrastructure and workforce limitations, the GAO said, "none of the seven shipbuilders that construct Navy battle force ships are currently positioned to meet the Navy's ship delivery goals."

Translation

機構分析師表示解決美國海軍造船問題應從工人開始 (2/2)

（繼續）

Oakley 本周向立法者發表的聲明引用了美國政府問責署關 (GAO)於海軍造船業的研究信息，聲明中表示，造船廠在很大程度上難以用新工人來取代流失的有經驗、熟練的工人。

美國國會研究服務處海軍事務分析師 Ronald O'Rourke說，這一問題同樣適用於設計師、船舶建築師和工程師等「可以從事其他工作」的白領船舶建造者。

它也與維修和修理場有重疊。Oakley指出，海軍的戰略必須把這些一併重點放在建設上，因為它們密不可分，而且面臨類似的問題，特別是在勞動力方面。

美國主要造船廠，特別是致力於給美國海軍頂級潛艇和水面艦艇服務的造船廠，指出了今天的勞動力與30年前的差異：他們在招募人員和留住有經驗的工人方面遇到了困難。

他們也談到了勞工問題與造船業其他問題的重疊。海軍的需求計劃訊息經常不一致，這導致該行業在僱用和留住工人方面處於不確定的境地。

美國商用和軍用船舶建造問題是華盛頓目前的首要任務。特朗普總統已宣布計劃在白宮設立一個專門處理這一問題的辦公室，他挑選的海軍部長和國防部長都強調了對造船業的關注。

在中國繼續保持造船業主導地位的背景下，這種緊迫性顯得尤為明顯。中國擁有世界上最大的造船業，遠遠超過美國，其商業和軍用造船廠之間的界線非常模糊。

隨著美國繼續優先應對中國的崛起​​和與大國競爭，一旦美國和中國在海上發生衝突，造船業顯得引人注意成為了美國軍方面臨的潛在問題。

按照目前的情況，海軍繼續建造和維護其艦隊的計劃將花費高昂的價錢。美國國會預算辦公室今年稍早表示，根據海軍 2025 年造船計劃，預計到 2054 年海軍每年將需要約 400 億美元。

但美國政府問責局表示，由於基礎設施和勞動力的限制， “建造海軍戰鬥艦艇的七家造船廠目前都無法滿足海軍的艦艇交付目標。”

              So, the American shipbuilding industry is facing severe issues, primarily in improving its workforce that start with providing competitive wages, quality-of-life improvements, and retention of skilled employees.  The Navy's plans to continue building and maintaining its fleet will be very expensive. Apparently, the US has to find new money to support its navy.

Note:

1. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent agency whose mission is to "provide Congress with timely information that is objective, fact-based, nonpartisan, non-ideological, fair, and balanced." Its reports give Congress information that can improve government operations and save taxpayers billions of dollars. (https://www.gao.gov/for-congress/reports)

機構分析師表示解決美國海軍造船問題應從工人開始 (1/2)

 Recently Yahoo News on-line picked up the following:

Fixing the US Navy's shipbuilding problems starts with the workers, agency analysts say (1/2)

Business Insider - Chris Panella

Sun, March 16, 2025 at 4:17 a.m. PDT·4 min read

The American shipbuilding industry is grappling with severe problems, none perhaps more crucial than the state of the workforce, naval affairs experts said this week.

Addressing the shipbuilding industry's workforce challenges, they explained, starts with competitive wages, quality-of-life improvements, and retention of skilled employees.

At a House Armed Service Committee Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee hearing, members and witnesses talked about some of the woes facing US shipbuilders, such as the smaller industrial base and erratic demand signals from the Navy, and how these long-standing challenges are affecting top Navy programs.

"To say this plainly, we must act now," said Sen. Trent Kelly, the subcommittee chairman.

"Whether through changes to our procurement processes, stronger industrial base investments, or cultural shifts within shipbuilding program offices," the Mississippi Republican said, "we need to make these decisions sooner rather than later."

A range of topics were discussed during the hearing, but the problems relating to shipbuilding workers were center stage.

The consensus among witnesses like Eric Labs, senior analyst for naval forces and weapons with the Congressional Budget Office, and Shelby Oakley, the director of contracting and national security acquisitions with the Government Accountability Office, was that the starting point for fixing US shipbuilding issues is investing in the workforce.

"In my view, nothing is more important than addressing the critical labor shortages that afflict all the shipbuilding and public maintenance yards," Labs said. Recruitment has been low, and retention difficult, especially in trades such as welding, ship fitters, and pipe fitters.

The primary solution brought up was higher wages. Worker pay isn't competitive enough, experts argued, especially for what can be a demanding job, meaning potential workers are opting for employment at retail outlets and other places. There's a decline in interest in manufacturing jobs and not enough investment in fixing that.

Other related problems are improving the quality of life and working conditions in the yards, cheaper housing, and more benefits. Upping automation in shipyards, as well as better worker training, too, were included.

There have been proposals put forward for better pay, as that's been a focus for industry and the Navy, but the challenges aren't easily solved. Higher wages invite entry-level workers, experts said, but then those yards must retain those skilled workers and invest in their careers.

(to be continued)

Translation

機構分析師表示解決美國海軍造船問題應從工人開始 (1/2)

 

海軍事務專家們本週表示，美國造船業正面臨嚴重的問題，其中最關鍵的或許就是勞動力狀況。

他們解釋說，解決船舶製造業的勞動力挑戰首先要有競爭力的薪資、改善生活品質和留住熟練的員工。

在眾議院軍事委員會海上力量和兵力投送小組委員會的聽證會上，議員和證人談到了美國造船商面臨的一些困境，例如工業基礎較小、海軍發出的需求信號不穩定，以及這些長期存在的挑戰如何影響海軍頂級項目。

小組委員會主席 Trent Kelly 參議員說: 「坦白說，我們必須立即採取行動」。

這位密西西比州共和黨人表示： “無論是通過改變我們的採購流程、加強工業基礎投資，還是造船項目辦公室內部的文化轉變，我們都需要儘早做出這些決定。”

聽證會上討論了一系列主題，但有關造船工人的問題成為焦點。

美國國會預算辦公室海軍力量與武器高級分析師 Eric Labs, 和美國政府問責局承包與國家安全收購主管Shelby Oakley 等證人的共識是，解決美國造船問題的起點是投資於勞動力。

Labs說： “在我看來，沒有什麼比解決困擾所有造船和公共維修廠的嚴重勞動力短缺問題更重要。”  招聘人數一直很低，而且很難留住人才，特別是在焊接、船舶裝配工和管道裝配工等行業。

提出的主要解決方案是提高工資。專家認為，工人的薪水不夠有競爭力，特別是對於要求高的工作來說，這意味著潛在的工人會選擇在零售店和其他地方就業。人們對製造業職位的興趣正在下降，而去解決這個問題的投資卻不夠。

其他相關問題包括改善船塢裡的生活質素和工作條件、提供更便宜的住房以及提供更多的福利。其中還包括提高造船廠的自動化程度以及加強工人培訓。

已經有人提出了提高薪資的建議，因為這是工業界和海軍關注的重點，但這些挑戰並不容易解決。專家表示，更高的工資可以吸引初級工人，但船廠必須留住這些技術工人，並對他們的職業生涯進行投資。

（待續）

美國開始在澳洲戰略海岸部署潛艦部隊 - 基於AUKUS聯盟

 Recently Yahoo News on-line picked up the following:

US starts to build submarine presence on strategic Australian coast under AUKUS

Sun, March 16, 2025 at 7:50 a.m. PDT·3 min read

By Kirsty Needham

PERTH (Reuters) - In the control room of the American Virginia class attack submarine USS Minnesota, off the Western Australian coast, sonar operators adjust to the chatter of dolphins in new waters where the U.S. submarine presence will soon grow significantly.

On a training exercise from its home port in Guam, USS Minnesota is a forerunner to four Virginia class submarines that will be hosted at a Western Australian naval base from 2027, under the AUKUS partnership to transfer nuclear submarine capability to Australia.

Crew use video game joysticks to interrogate screen images from a photonic mast that has replaced a periscope. Life aboard can mean up to 100 days without seeing sunlight, and intermittent communication with families via email to maintain stealth.

Commanding officer Jeffrey Corneille says the Virginia class submarine is "the most advanced warship in the world".

"If someone wakes up and they say 'Is today the day?', we make sure that they say 'Maybe not'," he says, describing its deterrent role.

Around 50-80 United States navy personnel will arrive by the middle of the year at Western Australia's HMAS Stirling base, which is undergoing an A$8 billion ($5 billion) upgrade to prepare for the "Submarine Rotational Force West", Australian officials have said.

In two years, those numbers will swell to hundreds of U.S. navy personnel and support crew.

The location of HMAS Stirling, closer to Asia and the Indian Ocean than the U.S. Pacific fleet headquarters in Hawaii, is strategically important to the United States, said Peter Dean, director of Foreign Policy and Defence at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney.

"Defending the Indian Ocean against rising Chinese capabilities and power is important," he said.

The Virginia submarine program has been exempted from Pentagon budget cuts as the Trump administration focuses less on the Middle East and Europe, and more on the Indo Pacific, he said.

The Trump administration's number three Pentagon official, Elbridge Colby, told a U.S. Senate confirmation hearing this month the attack submarines are "absolutely essential" for making the defence of Taiwan viable, and production rates must be lifted to first meet U.S. needs and also to fulfill its obligations to sell submarines to Australia under the AUKUS pact.

The USS Minnesota moved its home port from Hawaii to the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam, closer to Taiwan and the only forward-deployed U.S. submarine base, in November.

A Chinese navy task group that circumnavigated Australia in February and March, holding unprecedented live fire drills off the east coast that disrupted commercial airlines, before passing Western Australia to coincide with the USS Minnesota's port call and heading into the Indian Ocean, has highlighted China's ambition to operate more frequently in Australia's neighbourhood, Australian officials said.

Under AUKUS, Australia’s most expensive defence project, Australia will buy two used Virginia class submarines next decade, and build a new class of nuclear powered submarine with Britain, to replace its ageing diesel powered fleet.

In preparation, there are 115 Australians in the U.S. nuclear navy training pipeline or on Virginia submarines, plus 130 training for nuclear submarine maintenance at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, U.S. navy officials said.

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Perth; editing by Giles Elgood)

Translation

美國開始在澳洲戰略海岸部署潛艦部隊 - 基於AUKUS聯盟

珀斯（路透社）— 在西澳大利亞海岸附近的美國弗吉尼亞級攻擊潛艇明尼蘇達號的控制室裡，聲納操作員正在適應新海域海豚的鳴叫，美國潛艇的出現將很快地顯著增加。

明尼蘇達號核潛艇正在關島母港進行訓練演習，它是四艘弗吉尼亞級潛艇的前身。根據 AUKUS 合作夥伴關係，將核潛艇能力轉移給澳洲, 將於 2027 年在西澳大利亞海軍基地作客。

機組人員使用電玩操縱桿, 向取代潛望鏡的光子桅杆的螢幕影像獲取信息用。在船上的生活意味著長達 100 天都見不到陽光，並且只能透過電子郵件與家人斷斷續續地溝通以保持隱密。

指揮官Jeffrey Corneille 說，維吉尼亞級潛艦是「世界上最先進的軍艦」。

當他在描述其威懾作用時說道 :“如果有人醒來後問 ‘今天是那一天嗎？’，我們會確保他們會說 ‘也許不是’ ” 。

澳洲官員表示，約有 50 至 80 名美國海軍人員將於今年年中抵達西澳大利亞的皇家海軍(HMAS) Stirling基地，該基地正在進行耗資 80 億澳元（50 億美元）的升級，為「西部潛艇輪換部隊」做準備。

兩年內，這一數字將增加到數百名美國海軍人員和支援人員。

雪梨大學美國研究中心外交政策與國防問題主任 Peter Dean 表示，HMAS Stirling 基地的位置比位於夏威夷的美國太平洋艦隊總部更靠近亞洲和印度洋，對美國具有重要的戰略意義。

他說： “保衛印度洋抵禦中國不斷增強的能力和力量至關重要。”

他說，由於特朗普政府的重點不再是中東和歐洲，而是更關注印度太平洋地區，維吉尼亞潛艇計劃免受五角大廈預算削減的影響。

特朗普政府五角大廈官員三號人物 Elbridge Colby 本月在美國參議院的確認聽證會上表示，攻擊型潛艇對於保衛台灣 “絕對必要” ，必須提高潛艇生產率，首先滿足美國的需求，同時也要履行其根據 AUKUS 條約向澳大利亞出售潛艇的義務。

11 月，明尼蘇達號潛水艇將其母港從夏威夷遷至美國太平洋領土關島，該地更靠近台灣，也是美國唯一的前線部署潛艇基地。

澳洲官員稱，中國海軍編隊於 2 月和 3 月繞澳大利亞航行，在東海岸舉行了史無前例的實彈演習，導致商業航班中斷，其艘驅逐艦經過西澳大利亞，然後與美國海軍明尼蘇達號驅逐艦的停靠港口同步，再駛入印度洋，這凸顯了中國在澳洲週邊地區開展更頻繁活動的抱負。

根據澳洲最昂貴的國防計劃 AUKUS，澳洲將在未來十年購買兩艘二手維吉尼亞級潛艦，並與英國共同建造一艘新型核動力潛艦，以取代其老化的柴油動力艦隊。

美國海軍官員說，在準備階段，有 115 名澳洲人在美國的核海軍系統性訓練流程中，或在維吉尼亞號潛艇上接受訓練，另外還有 130 名澳洲人在夏威夷珍珠港接受核潛艇維護培訓。

       So, under AUKUS, Australia will buy two used Virginia class submarines next decade, and build a new class of nuclear-powered submarine with Britain. Meanwhile around 50-80 United States navy personnel will arrive at Western Australia's HMAS Stirling base. Apparently, Australia’s navy force is expanding in response to the challenges from China.

Note:

1. AUKUS , also styled as Aukus, is a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States intended to "promote a free and open Indo-Pacific that is secure and stable." This partnership involves two lines of effort referred to as pillars. Pillar 1 focuses on Australia acquiring nuclear-powered attack submarines and the rotational basing of US and UK nuclear-powered attack submarines in Australia. Pillar 2 is about the collaborative development of advanced capabilities in six technological areas: undersea capabilities, quantum technologies, artificial intelligence and autonomy, advanced cyber, hypersonic and counter-hypersonic capabilities, and electronic warfare; and in two broader functional areas: innovation and information sharing.(Wikipedia)

2. HMAS Stirling is a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) base that is part of Fleet Base West situated on the west coast of Australia, on the Indian Ocean. The base is located on Garden Island in the state of Western Australia, near the city of Perth.

Genetically modified pig kidney transplant successfully completed, a major step forward for xenotransplantation - the US (2/2)

 Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

遺伝子改変したブタの腎臓移植に成功、「異種移植」大きな前進　米

CNN 2025.03.08 Sat posted at 18:30 JST

(continue)

移植成功の鍵を握る遺伝子操作

動物の臓器を人間に移植する「異種移植（ゼノトランスプランテーション）」は、長い間、ＳＦの世界のものと考えられてきた。しかし、米国ではブタを使った異種移植がこの３年間で６例実施されている。これらのブタは、その臓器がより人体に適合するように遺伝子操作されている。

アンドリュースさんへの移植手術を行ったマサチューセッツ総合病院の医療チームは、マサチューセッツ州ケンブリッジに拠点を置くバイオテクノロジー企業、イージェネシスが開発した臓器を使用した。

科学者たちは、ＣＲＩＳＰＲと呼ばれる遺伝子操作技術を使って、ブタのＤＮＡを改変する。

イージェネシスの研究者たちは、拒絶反応や臓器の大きさ、さらに人への感染の恐れのあるレトロウイルスなど、多くの潜在的問題に対処するために６０以上の遺伝子操作を行っている。

大勢の患者にとって希望の光

アンドリュースさんは移植手術からわずか１週間で退院したが、引き続き経過観察が行われている。

週３回の血液検査に加え、複数の端末を使って医療チームが遠隔でアンドリュースさんのバイタルサインや心拍リズムを監視している。また人間の腎臓を移植した場合と同様に、拒絶反応を抑制するために、アンドリュースさんは生涯にわたって免疫抑制剤を服用する必要がある。

米国では３７００万人の成人が慢性腎疾患を抱えており、そのうち約８０万人が末期の腎不全を患っている。

ニューヨーク大学ランゴーン医療センターの移植外科医ジェイム・ロック医師によると、同センターでは毎年８万～１０万人の患者を腎臓移植の待機リストに登録するが、年間に実施する腎移植は２万５０００～２万８０００件にとどまるという。しかも、腎不全を患うすべての患者が待機リストに登録されるわけではない。

アンドリュースさんのように末期の腎疾患を患う患者にとって、この新たな臓器は全く予想していなかった明るい兆しだ。

「まさに一筋の希望の光だ」とアンドリュースさんは述べた。

Translation

Genetically modified pig kidney transplant successfully completed, a major step forward for xenotransplantation - the US (2/2)

CNN 2025.03.08 Sat posted at 18:30 JST

(continue)

Genetic manipulation held the key to successful transplantation

“Xenotransplantation”, the transplantation of animal organs into humans, had long been considered something of a science fiction story. However, six xenotransplantations using pigs had been performed in the US in the past three years. These pigs were genetically modified to make their organs more compatible with the human body.

The medical team at Massachusetts General Hospital who performed Andrews' transplant surgery used organs developed by eGenesis, a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Scientists used a genetic engineering technique called CRISPR to modify the pig's DNA.

eGenesis researchers had performed more than 60 genetic modifications to address many potential issues, including rejection, organ size, and even retroviruses that could infect humans.

A ray of hope for many patients

Andrews was released from the hospital just one week after the transplant, but remained under observation.

In addition to blood tests three times a week, Andrews' vital signs and heart rhythm were monitored remotely by a medical team using multiple devices. As with a human kidney transplant, Andrews would need to take immunosuppressants for the rest of his life to prevent rejection.

In the United States, 37 million adults had chronic kidney disease, of which about 800,000 suffered from final-stage renal failure.

Dr. Jayme Locke, a transplant surgeon at New York University Langone Medical Center, said the center put 80,000 to 100,000 patients on the kidney transplant waiting list each year, but performed only 25,000 to 28,000 kidney transplants annually. Furthermore, not all patients with kidney failure had been put on the waiting list.

For patients with final stage renal disease like Andrews, the new organ was an unexpected promising sign.

"It really is a ray of hope," Andrews said.

              So, Andrews has been on dialysis for about two years due to final-stage kidney disease. In February a pig kidney transplant performed on him was a success. This transplant surgery uses organs developed by eGenesis, a biotechnology company based in the US. For patients with final stage renal disease like Andrews, the new organ is an unexpected promising sign. I hope Andrews will start a new life with this pig kidney transplant, and his experience will benefit other patients with similar organ failure.

Note:

1. In its website eGenesis states that it is a biotechnology company committed to using its multiplex gene editing and genome engineering platform to transform solid organ and therapeutic cell transplantation for the treatment of serious diseases. (https://egenesisbio.com/about/)

Genetically modified pig kidney transplant successfully completed, a major step forward for xenotransplantation - the US (1/2)

 Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

遺伝子改変したブタの腎臓移植に成功、「異種移植」大きな前進　米 (1/2)

CNN

2025.03.08 Sat posted at 18:30 JST

 （ＣＮＮ） ６６歳のティム・アンドリュースさんにとって、それは生死に関わる問題だった。

アンドリュースさんは、末期の腎疾患のため、約２年にわたり透析を受けた。腎移植の待機リストに登録されていたが、アンドリュースさんの血液型が原因でドナー（臓器提供者）探しは困難を極めた。

腎移植の平均待機期間は、大半の医療センターで３～５年だが、血液型がＯ型の人の場合は、移植までの待機期間が１０年に及ぶこともあることが複数の研究で明らかになっている。

アンドリュースさんが長期透析により、向こう５年間生きられる確率はわずか３５％だ。医師たちは、アンドリュースさんが今後５年以内に腎移植を受けられる可能性は約９％と予測していた。

そのため、マサチューセッツ総合病院の医師たちから、ブタの腎臓を使った実験的な移植を検討したらどうかと提案された時、アンドリュースさんに迷いはなかった。

「突然のことだが、もう暗闇の中にはいない。これから快方に向かう。自分はこれ（ブタの腎臓の移植）にかける」

アンドリュースさんは病院でのインタビューでそう述べた。

そして２月７日、マサチューセッツ総合病院の医師たちは、アンドリュースさんへのブタの腎臓移植が成功したと発表した。

１月２５日に行われたこの移植手術は、米食品医薬品局（ＦＤＡ）の拡大アクセス（一般にコンパッショネート・ユースと呼ばれる）制度を通じて実施された。この拡大アクセスは、死が切迫している病状の患者に、試験研究中の医療製品の使用を認める制度だ。

アンドリュースさんは、３人の患者を対象に行われる研究の最初の患者となる。また、現在世界でブタの腎臓の移植手術を受けて生存している２人目の人物となる。

同病院の腎移植部門の医療ディレクターを務めるレオナルド・リエラ医師は次のように述べた。

「今年、３人の患者を対象に実施されるこの研究は、命を救う腎移植を必要とする何千人もの患者にとって、異種移植が革新的な解決策として長期的に実現可能か否かを見極める重大な手掛かりとなるだろう」

(to be continued)

Translation

Genetically modified pig kidney transplant successfully completed, a major step forward for xenotransplantation - the US (1/2)

(CNN) For 66-year-old Tim Andrews, it was a matter of life and death.

Andrews had been on dialysis for about two years due to final-stage kidney disease. He was on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, but Andrews' blood type made it extremely difficult to find a donor (organ donor).

The average wait time for a kidney transplant was three to five years at most medical centers, but studies had shown that people with blood type O could wait as long as 10 years for a transplant.

Andrews' long-term dialysis gave him only a 35% chance of surviving the next five years. Doctors predicted that he had about a 9% chance of receiving a kidney transplant within the next five years.

So, when doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital suggested he consider an experimental pig kidney transplant, Andrews didn't hesitate.

"All of a sudden, I'm not in the dark anymore. I'm on my way to recovery. I'm going to do this [pig kidney transplant]."

Andrews said in an interview at the hospital.

And on February 7, doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital announced that Andrews' pig kidney transplant was a success.

The transplant, which took place on January 25, was performed through the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Expanded Access (commonly known as compassionate use) program. Expanded access allowed patients who were in a critical condition to use experimental medical products.

Andrews would be the first patient in the three-patient study. He would also be the second person in the world to have survived a pig kidney transplant.

Dr. Leonardo Riella, medical director of kidney transplantation at the hospital, said:

"This study, which will be conducted on three patients this year, will provide important clues to whether xenotransplantation may be a viable and long-term solution for the thousands of patients who need life-saving kidney transplants."

(to be continued)

Taiwan's TSMC to invest 15 trillion yen in the US, President Trump announces

 Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

台湾ＴＳＭＣ、米国で１５兆円投資へ　トランプ大統領発表

2025.03.04 Tue posted at 17:47 JST

  ニューヨーク（ＣＮＮ） 台湾の半導体大手、台湾積体電路製造（ＴＳＭＣ）が、米国での生産事業に少なくとも１０００億ドル（約１５兆円）を投資するとの見通しが明らかになった。

 

トランプ米大統領が３日、魏哲家・最高経営責任者（ＣＥＯ）、ラトニック商務長官、人工知能（ＡＩ）・暗号資産政策を指揮するサックス氏とともに、ホワイトハウスで発表した。

 

アリゾナ州ですでに稼働しているＴＳＭＣの半導体製造工場一つと建設中の二つに加え、新たに先端工場三つを建設するための資金で、数万人の雇用創出が期待される。

 

Translation

Taiwan's TSMC to invest 15 trillion yen in the US, President Trump announces

New York (CNN) Taiwanese semiconductor giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) was set to invest at least $100 billion (approximately 15 trillion yen) in its manufacturing operations in the US.

US President Trump announced this at the White House on the 3rd, along with CEO Wei Zhejia (魏哲家), Secretary of Commerce Lutnick, and Sachs, who oversees artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency policies.

The funds would be used to build three new cutting-edge factories, in addition to one TSMC semiconductor manufacturing plant already in operation and two under construction in Arizona, tens of thousands of jobs were expected to be created.

       So, TSMC will be investing at least $100 billion in its manufacturing operations in the US. I am wondering what are the reasons that push TSMC to make such a decision. Will US tariffs be a factor? Or the future security of Taiwan?

熊貓吃竹子而不跟隨直覺進食。科學家解釋原因

 Recently Yahoo News on-line picked up the following:

Pandas eat bamboo instead of going with their gut. Scientists explain why

Chris Lau, CNN

Thu, February 27, 2025 at 11:13 p.m. PST·2 min read

Pandas famously love bamboo but the fluffy mammals actually have digestive systems typical of animals that eat a meat-based diet - and Chinese scientists now think they know why.

They say gorging on the tall, fast-growing plant can influence the covert carnivores’ behavior and regulate the bears’ sense of smell and taste.

Native to southwest China, pandas spend up to 16 hours a day devouring bamboo, absorbing a genetic material called microRNA (miRNA) into their bloodstream, according to research published Friday in the journal Frontiers.

The molecule can influence how genetic information is transferred across pandas’ bodies, shaping the way they act, said the research led by China West Normal University in Sichuan province.

MiRNA plays “a role in regulating the gene expression of giant pandas,” said Dr Li Feng, a senior author from the university, in a statement.

Li and his colleagues found that the molecule can shape physiological processes in pandas’ bodies, including growth, biological rhythms, behavior and immune responses.

“MiRNA in bamboo is also involved in the regulation of smell, taste, and dopamine pathways of giant pandas, all of which are related to their feeding habits,” he said.

The researchers believe that by the time a baby panda grows up, it will develop the ability to pick the freshest and most nutritious bamboo, which enables them to adapt to a plant-based diet.

The study was based on blood samples from six adult pandas and a juvenile. Among those samples, scientists detected 57 traces of miRNAs likely derived from bamboo.

They hope the discovery can help scientists further understand the effect of plant miRNA on animals, potentially paving the way for the treatment or prevention of diseases, according to the study.

Though the panda’s diet consists almost entirely of bamboo leaves, stems and shoots, about 1% of their food comes from other plants - and even meat such as small rodents, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

About 1,800 pandas live in the wild, roaming mountain ranges in the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu, WWF says.

Habitat loss and fragmentation pose the biggest threats to wild pandas, while their lukewarm desire to reproduce has made preserving them a challenge. When mothers finally give birth, newborn pandas are extremely fragile.

China has drastically scaled up efforts to save the bears over the past decades, boosting the number of panda reserves from 12 to 67.

Translation

熊貓吃竹子而不跟隨直覺進食。科學家解釋原因

眾所周知，大貓熊喜愛吃竹子，但這種毛茸茸的哺乳動物實際上擁有典型的肉食動物的消化系統 - 中國科學家現在認為他們知道了其中的原因。

他們表示，大量食用這種高大、快速生長的植物可以影響隱性肉食者的行為，並調節熊貓的嗅覺和味覺。

根據週五發表在《前沿》雜誌上的一項研究顯示，大貓熊原產於中國西南部，每天要花 16 個小時進食竹子，將一種名為微小核糖核酸 (miRNA) 的遺傳物質吸收到血液中。

四川省華師範大學主導的研究顯示，這種分子可以影響大熊貓體內遺傳訊息的傳遞方式，進而塑造它們的行為方式。

該大學資深作者 Li Feng 博士在聲明中表示，miRNA「在調節大熊貓基因表現方面發揮作用」。

Li 和他的同事發現這種分子會影響熊貓體內的生理過程，包括生長、生物節律、行為和免疫反應。

他說： “竹子中的miRNA也參與調節大熊貓的嗅覺、味覺和多巴胺通路，這些都與它們的飲食習慣有關。”

研究人員認為，在大熊貓寶寶長大後，它們將具備挑選最新鮮、最有營養的竹子的能力，這使它們能夠適應以植物為基礎的飲食。

研究以六隻成年大熊貓和一隻幼年大熊貓的血液樣本為基礎。在這些樣本中，科學家檢測到了 57 種可能來自竹子的 miRNA 痕跡。

根據研究，他們希望這項發現能幫助科學家進一步了解植物 miRNA 對動物的影響，為治療或預防疾病鋪平道路。

根據世界野生動物基金會 (WWF) 介紹，雖然大貓熊的食物幾乎全部由竹葉、竹莖和竹筍組成，但其約 1% 的食物來自其他植物，甚至還有細小的囓齒動物的肉。

世界自然基金會稱，約有 1,800 隻大熊貓生活在野生環境中，漫遊於中國四川、陝西和甘肅省的山脈中。

棲息地喪失和破碎化對野生大熊貓構成了最大的威脅，而它們冷淡的繁殖慾望也使去保育它們成為一項挑戰。當熊貓媽媽最終生產時，新生的熊貓是極其脆弱的。

過去幾十年來，中國大大提升了拯救熊貓的力度，大熊貓保護區的數量從 12 隻增加到 67 隻。

So, a study based on blood samples from pandas has detected 57 traces of miRNAs likely derived from bamboo. They hope the discovery can help scientists further understand the effect of plant miRNA on animals, potentially paving the way for the treatment or prevention of diseases.